Safety razor



Jan. 25, E955 G. T. RANDoL 2,700,216

SAFETY RAZOR Filed sept. 4, 1952 wj/"zzo/ 5% in? MVM/w United Statesv Patent@ SAFETY 'RAZOR Glenn 'l'. Randal, Mountain Lake Park,"Md.

Application September 4,1952, Serial No. 3.07855 17 Claims. .(Cl. `l0-.62)

Generally, the present Ainvention relates to a novel safety -razor construction-for use `with .expendable blades of the type having a single cutting edge v4opposite anunsharpened .butt edge.

More speciiically, .this 1 invention Ipertains `to ka .novel razor construction ofthe injector Atype,f.being so .characterized because a blade may be inserted and V.removed endwise by lateral movements of Aa support 4.structure therefor, and which is movable vrelatively to .the'handle and contains the .blade during a shaving or unloading operation.

,In regard to safetyv razors .of various types,-considerable attention has heretofore 'been directed to .the personal injury factor incident tothe placement and .subsequent removal of an expandable blade. -As a result, .anurnber of loading devices and .pre-.packed 'blade-dispensing cartridges have been -devised ,for 'blade fplacemenn '.but insofar as I am aware, blade removal for cleansing andre-use or for discardingipurposes, .continuesto be a chore fraught Withthe risk of personal injury.

Further, the devices .under consideration are :not :reloadable, so that after the supply .oflblades therein .contained has been exhausted, 4the costofan'other .cartridge must be added to that of.new`.blades.

The primary object ofthe present linventionisto fprovide a razor .of the finjector type which .incorporates means for the safe insertion andrernovalof .blades wth- .v,

out necessarily requiring the .use .of an accessory.

To this end, the instant construction provides .artside opening through which .a slidably andpivotably mounted platform may be moved in-one direction to project .beyond one end of the razor head, whereit.isautomatically supported insuch position for the-.easy ,placement and removal of a blade. Means are provided on the platform for maintaining a deposited blade-,inplace .asthe .platform is retracted in the opposite direction to :bring .the 'blade into effective shaving position.` In 'the .1atter,.p.os`ition, ...a notch .cooperates with an arm integrally formed .onthe platform for preventing .the -fortuitous displacement of the latter and the blade thereon, said .arm being seated and so maintained in the notch aforesaidbytheiupwardly biasing actionof a leaf spring. n

The razor head comprises a substantially U-shaped frame rigidly securedfto .theupper end Aolflahandle, and is angularly disposed forwardly relative to. .the latter. .The frame features an -elongated substantially v.semi-,circular section which serves a dual purpose. That isto say, ,said sec-tion provides a slidewayffor .thereciprocable bladesupporting platform, and also provides a ypivotal .connection therefor, as will appear. Said frame also includes a pair of longitudinally spaced depressions on the rearward portionof an upper resilient segment .thereof, which depressions are adapted to enter .intoza pair of similarly spaced openings provided, for example., rin the reinforcement strip, when so equipped, ofthe-.blade whenever the platform .aforesaidis.manipulated from a loading to a shaving position.

Details of Aconstruction `not .hereinbefore referred uto, additional features and advantages which they invention provides, and the manner in which the invention .achieves its'objectives, will be apparent from the ldetailed description to follow with reference tothe accompanying .drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a safety razorconstructed in accordance with the principles of the lpresent invention, and having a `blade mounted therein inshavingposition;

j ice 'Figure 2 l.is a verticalsectional View takenapproximatelyton.theflinelII--Il of Figure .11;

FigureS rissa rear `elevational view of the razor, .the 'lower portion 'of the handle being broken away;

`1:"igure-4is a wtopzplan view, partlyvin section and '.ta'ken .ontheline IV-IV of Figure 2, the .blade .and its:sup porting lplatform however, :being lshown in a'laterally projected position relative-to the Figure land 2-position thereof;

Figure 51is a vertical sectional viewtaken substantially .along the line V-V of -Figure .2; and

Figure .6 is a .perspective view ofthe-:movable bladesupportingplatformper se, .particularly .illustrating a pair of upstanding "blade retaining pins `vformed thereon.

y.Referring to the drawings:

The razor .constructionfof the presentdnvention.is-.in- .dicatedgenerally by the .reference numeral 141. -Broadly the illustrated structure includes a bladefreceiving zand Vsupporting platform. generally designated 12, whichis por trayed particularlyin Figure .6; .a substantially vU-.shaped frame l.generally designated 14 forhingedly and vslidably supportingsaid platform; -a handle l16 formed of plastic or other suitable material; and a bracket 18 surmounting 'said `handletto which vthe frame 14 is rigidly'secured as by. alpair of rivets, vshown-.especially in Figures 3 yand .5.

The platform l12.1is .of .substantially ,rectangular .conguratiomand-includes aflat main .bodyv portion .20 which terminates at the rear in .an lupwardly .projectingfllange segment .22, and. at .the .front ina .reversely .bent ,approximately circular segment. 24. As will-appear, the segment 2'4- -constitutes :an .elongated `pivotal .or vhinge .mounting for theplatform.

'Numeral 26 ,designatesza rearwardly .projecting arm Which merges into the ilange 22 adjacentto what willlbe termed the left end of theplatform. .The .armf26 .terminates inra .thumbpiece 27the .upper `.surfaceof which .is preferablyknurled asshown. At-the right end, .thebody portion..20.of .said platform lhas .formed therein .a .semioi-rcular recess 28 -the provision of .whichserveslto-facilitate blade .mounting and. removal, as .will appear. Adjacentthe left and rightwends |of.Platform 12 .andforwardly located-at a predetermined distance .from ange 22, .are .two .upstanding lpin elements .30 which, .as will .be explained, .cooperate with said frame 14 in the .disposition of ablade for effective Ashaving operations. ...As''ligure 6 demonstrates, .the free .end -of each pini30 is,pref erably rounded.

The 'frame -14 .includes .a lower base segment-..32; .an upper resilient `segment y34 generally :co-.planar 'f therewilh; and a web .segment 36 `connecting thesegment32 with an upwardly oiset portion .ofthe ,segment 3.4, :as best seen in ,Figure 2. The frame 14 is .angularly disposed forwardly withrespect-to the handle 16, ,and is .rigidly secured to the bracketlS ,aspreviously stated,.and asthe drawings `clearly demonstrate.

With .attention directed particularly to Figures 2.andf4, itis notedthat the .forward end of -the base segment .32 terminates in Vvan `upwardly disposed .blade .rest portion 40 which is-cofplanar therewith, ,and is .provided .with ,a guard lip -42 along its forward longitudinaledge,..ahd an elongated. slot-44 rearwardly adjacent thereto for-.discharging beard-laden lather during a shaving' ope1'ation.

Numeral 4.6 designates a pair of lateral web portions interconnecting the base segment 32 andthe 'blade rest 4Q, said webs being ,co-extensivelaterally with the frame 14. It is noted however, with particular referenceftoFigures 2, 3 and 4, .that inwardly of the-leftand right marginal edges 48 and 5t) ofthe frarne'.14, the base segment 32 is cut-out or slotted as at 52, .whereby 'to provide y'in conjunction with the adjacent portioniof said webs, lan elongated substantially semi-circular section 54.

The free marginal longitudinal edge 56 of fthe'upper segment `34 :is preferably downwardly inclinedeas seen to best advantage in Figure' 2. And as mostk clearlyushown inlFigures l and'5, said upper segment has formed therein a pair'fof.longitudinally-spaced vdownwardlyextruded depressions or holes 58. Formed in the web `segment T36 isanelongated .slot60 ,through whichthe arm 26 projects as best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The rightwend of .said slotterminates inan upwardlyotfset notch .62;as illustrated inlFigure. It is noted lat this point, that the :sloting elements, such as the two rivets, which secure the frame 14 to the bracket 18,

The type of blade for use with the hereinbefore de- "i scribed safety razor construction is clearly portrayed in Figure 4, and designated 66. Said blade includes a cuttlng edge 68 opposite an unsharpened butt edge 70, the

latter being an arcuate segment of a reversely bent reinforcement strip 72 with which the type of blade under consideration is ordinarily provided, but not a requisite since the longitudinally spaced depressions or holes as at 74 may be impressed directly in the blade proper thus eliminating the reinforcement strip.

Formed in the reinforcement strip 72, is, for example, l

a pair of the longitudinally spaced openings 74, the spacing corresponding to that of the extruded depressions 58 in the upper segment 34 of frame 14. Intermediate the butt and cutting edges of the blade 66, two notches 76 are indented along the side margins of said blade. These notches are preferably minutely larger than the diameter of the upstanding pins 30 incorporated in the platform 12 for reasons to be explained.

Although it is believed that from the preceding detailed description augmented by an inspection of the drawings, a comprehensive understanding of the invention may be had, a brief explanation of what will be termed a shaving cycle is presented as follows:

Assuming that the razor 10 has been unloaded following a previous shaving cycle, the platform 12 will be in its fully retracted position exhibited in Figures l and 3. In other words, the arm 26 is locked in the offset notch 62, the platform 12 being biased upwardly by the leaf spring 64 in blade clamping position.

Loading the razor is a simple procedure. Downward manual pressure is first applied to the thumb-piece 27 to swing the platform 12 downwardly about its pivotal mounting 24, 54 against the upward biasing force of the leaf spring, until the arm 26 engages the lower longitudinal edge of slot 60. Thereupon the platform 12 is manually moved to the right (Figure 4) until the arm 26 strikes against the right end edge of said slot, the pivot segment 24 sliding along the inner surface of the semicircular frame segment 54. It is to be observed that should. a release of manual pressure on the thumb-piece be had at any point of platform movement between the extreme positions thereof, the upward biasing force of leaf-spring 64 would automatically effect a locking of said platform in the position it concurrently occupies.

With the major portion of the platform 12 projecting beyond the right end 50 of the frame as in Figure 4, a blade 66 is now manually deposited thereon as shown, the pins 30 projecting upwardly through the slots 76, the butt edge 70 adjacent to the upstanding flange 22, the left corner portion of the blade adjacent the cutting edge 68 being supported on the rest portion 40 of the frame, and the right extremity of leaf spring 64 bearing against the underside of the blade support 12. The recess 28 facilitating placement and removal of the blade, as should be apparent.

With the blade in position thereon, the platform 12 is now retracted to the left by means of the thumb-piece 27 until the arm 26 strikes against the left end edge of slot 60. As contact is made, thumb-piece 27 is released whereupon leaf spring 64 swings the platform upwardly about its pivotal mounting to automatically actuate arm 26 into notch 62, thus locking the platform against fortuitous movement. Simultaneously, the blade 66 is automatically maneuvered into and clamped in effective cutting position by the camming action between the depressions 58 and blade openings 74 and the biasing action of leaf spring 64, respectively. It is noted that the camming action referred to is facilitated and accommodated by the slight clearance which obtains between the pins 30 of the platform 12, and the notches 76 in the blade.

Figures l and 2 clearly demostrate the relative disposition of the parts during the shaving operation which follows. The inclined free marginal portion 56 of the resilient frame segment 34 bears against the longitudinal blade surface adjacent the cutting edge 68 thereof, thus cooperating with the depressions 58 to stabilize the blade in clamped shaving position.

Following the shaving operation, platform 12 is again moved to its projecting Figure 4 position in the manner previoupsly described, for easy removal of the blade as by grasping between the thumb and finger the end portion thereof exposed by recess 28.

The illustrated and thus far described embodiment of the invention may obviously admit of slight modifications in certain respects without departing from the novel concepts thereof. Thus, it should be manifest that the illustrated notch 62 could be dispensed with and rely solely on the upward biasing effect on the arm 26 into engagement with the upper edge of the slot 60 to releasably V stabilize the platform 12 in the position desired.

In view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that my invention discloses a safety razor construction of the injector type adapted to efciently achieve its objectives. It is simple in design, and easy to manipulate without risk of personal injury during the placement and removal of blades.

Further discussing the operative characteristics of the disclosed novel razor construction, it is desired to emphasize that the full length of the blade cutting edge 68 is utilizable to facilitate shaving in inaccessible facial portions such as about the nose and lips; and that the razor head and contained blade may be readily and thoroughly rinsed of beard ladened lather singlehandedly during or upon completion of a shaving operation, particularly where a blade is retained for subsequent use since either the thumb or forenger of the hand clasping the handle 16 can be used on the thumbpiece 27 to project the blade from the frame to enable drying the exposed cutting edge as by wiping with the free hand, without disturbing the li'ilzade proper in its loaded position on the platform It is to be understood that the invention contemplates all structural modifications and equivalents which may fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A razor construction including a handle, an openended frame rigid with one end of the handle, a blade receiving and supporting platform pivotally and slidably mounted in the frame, means for manually moving said platform in one direction to a first position wherein the major portion thereof projects beyond the confines of the frame, and for thereafter moving said platform in the opposite direction to a second position wherein all portions thereof are located within the confines of said frame, and means for yieldingly maintaining said platform in its first and second positions, and in any position therebe- 2. A razor construction including a handle, an openended frame rigid with one end of the handle, a blade receiving and supporting platform pivotally and slidably mounted in the frame, means for first manually moving said platform in one direction to a position wherein the major portion thereof projects beyond the confines of the frame, and for thereafter moving said platform in the opposite direction to a position wherein all portions thereof are located within the confines of said frame, and leaf spring means for constantly biasing said platform toward the overlying segment of said frame.

3. The razor construction defined in claim 2, and means on the platform cooperating with means provided on a blade deposited thereon in the projected position 'hereof for properly positioning the blade on said platorm.

4. The razor construction defined in claim 2, plus means on the frame cooperating with means provided on a blade supported on said platform for automatically maneuvering said blade into shaving position and clamping the same therein when the platform is biased as aforesaid after all portions thereof are positioned within the connes of said frame.

5. A razor construction including a handle, a substantially U-shaped frame rigidly mounted on the upper end of the handle in forwardly angular disposition relative thereto, a platform for supporting a blade in effective shaving disposition within said frame, an elongated reversely bent approximately circular segment on the body portion of said platform and a complementary elongated substantiallysemi-circular segment on the base portion of said frame to provide a combined pivotal and slidable mounting for said platform, and manually engageable means on the platform for selectively moving same outwardly and inwardly with respect to said frame along the oo ribined pivotal and slidable mounting thereof aforesai 6. The razor construction defined in claim 5, wherein the recited platform for suporting a blade is of a substantially rectangular configuration, and includes in addition to said approximately circular segment: a flat body portion whereon said blade lies; an upwardly projecting flange adjacent to which the butt edge of the blade is positioned; a pair of longitudinally spaced pins which project upwardly through similarly spaced slots indented along the side marginal edges of the blade; a semi-circular recess formed in said body portion along one end thereof for facilitating the placement and removal of blades; and the recited manually engageable means which comprises a rearwardly projecting arm merging at one end into said flange, and terminating at its opposite end in a thumbpiece the upper surface of which is knurled.

7. The razor construction defined in claim 5, in combination with means provided on the frame for cooperating with the recited manually engageable means to limit the outward and inward movements of the platform, and for rcleasably locking the latter in its inward position.

8. The razor construction defined in claim 5, in combination with a leaf spring mounted on said frame for constantly biasing the recited platform toward the overlying segment of said frame about the combined pivotal and slidable mounting thereof.

9. ln a razor construction of the character described, the combination of: a handle supported open-ended trame; a blade receiving and supportlng platform pivotally and slidably mounted in said frame; a manually engageable element integral with the platform for sliding said platform laterally in one direction to a position wherein the major portion thereof projects beyond one end of said frame for the reception of a blade, and for thereafter retracting said platform and the blade thereon in the opposite direction to dispose said blade in effective shaving position; means on the frame for limiting the movements of said platform in both directions and for releasably locking the platform in the blade-effective shaving position; and means mounted on the frame for applying upward pressure against the underside of the platform to clamp the blade in said shaving position.

10. ln a razor construction of the character described; the combination defined in claim 9, and means on the uppermost segment of said frame inter-engageable with means on the surface adjacent the butt edge of the blade l y for maintaining the latter in said effective shaving position.

1 1. In a razor construction of the character described, the combination defined in claim 9 wherein the means for limiting the movements of and for releasably locking the platform include: an elongated slot provided in a web segment of said frame through which said manually engageable element projects; and an upwardly offset notch formed at one end of said slot into which said element is biased, when in registry therewith, by the means mounted on said frame.

12. ln a razor construction of the character described; the combination defined in claim 9, and a downwardly inclined longitudinal marginal edge portion on the uppermost segment for cooperation with the blade rest segment of said frame to stabilize the blade during a shaving operation.

13. The combination with a razor blade having a single cutting edge of a blade holder of substantially U or loop cross section adapted to receive such blade endwise into effective cutting position between the forward longitudinal confronting end surfaces of the legs thereof with the blade proper spanning substantially the space defined between the legs, means for supporting said blade within the blade holder comprising a planar portion integral with and forming the forward portion of one of the legs and a member connected to the interior of said one leg for pivotal and slidable movement with respect thereto, said member being pivoted into normally co-planar position with respect to the aforementioned planar portion of the said one leg, means for continuously biasing said member toward its normal position, and a manuallyoperated element for pivotally and slidably moving said member and blade relatively to the blade holder in opposition to the biasing force of said last-named means.

14. The combination of claim 13 includingmeans cooperating with said manually-operated element for locking the said member and blade against slidable movement.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the longitudinal edge of the said one leg is formed to produce a guard lip slightly forward of and below the cutting edge of said blade.

16. The combination of claim 15 including means cooperable between the rearward portion of the other leg and the butt edge surface of said blade for adjusting and clamping said blade in shaving position within the blade holder upon release of said manually-operated element to lock the member and blade against slidable movement.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the other leg of the blade holder is yieldable with respect to the said one leg to cause tension on the longitudinal surface adjacent the cutting edge of said blade whereby said blade is maintained in engagement with the planar portion of the said one leg during a shaving operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,847,556 Gaisman Mar. 1, 1932 

